Our People

	Laura Manning lmanning@lshallmanfdn.org Laura has been the Executive Director of the Foundation since 2011. Previously, Laura worked as an external relations professional in universities. She was part of the small team that developed and launched the new School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Campus at the University of Waterloo. Laura’s extensive experience covers many aspects of the non-profit sector, including major gift fundraising, communications, program development and change management. She is an active member of the national Early Child Development Funders Working Group, the Smart Waterloo Region Advisory Committee, the Waterloo Region Children & Youth Planning Table, and the Early Years System Steering Group.
	Abbie Grafstein agrafstein@lshallmanfdn.org Abbie has been our Manager of Grants and Community Investment since 2015, overseeing granting cycles and managing special projects to advance the Foundation’s impact. Prior to joining the Foundation, Abbie worked in community and government settings in Toronto and Kitchener where she championed change as a leader in community development, outreach and engagement, program development and management of community facilities. She has worked on numerous initiatives to address a broad range of issues including youth social development, social isolation, diversity and inclusion, accessibility, and neighbourhood place making. Abbie is an active member of the Steering Committee for Philanthropic Foundations of Canada Grant Managers’ Affinity Group and is co-founder and facilitator of Communitech’s Coaches Peer- to-Peer, an alliance of professional coaches in Waterloo region. As an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, Abbie partners with individuals and groups on strategy, leadership, and conflict management.
	Garry Haack ghaack@lshallmanfdn.org Garry has been our Grants and Administration Officer for more than ten years. Prior to this, he worked as a site foreman and business owner in the commercial metal roofing and cladding industry. Garry’s deep community roots include 15+ years as a coach and board member with minor sports, spanning football, softball and hockey. He is an active volunteer with Sertoma, a service club dedicated to the deaf and hard of hearing, and has also volunteered with the Child Witness Centre.
	Emily Van Giessen emily@lshallmanfdn.org Emily joined the Foundation in July 2019 as our Administration and Logistics Coordinator. Prior to joining the team, she worked behind the scenes at a local funeral home, supporting the funeral directors and the families they served. Born and raised in Kitchener, Emily also has experience in Waterloo Region’s not-for-profit sector both as a front-line worker and as a volunteer in a variety of roles.

Donations Advisory Council

The Donations Advisory Council helps to review all grant applications and make recommendations based on whether there is a good match between a request and the mission and priorities of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation.

The Council members are:

Nora Martin

Susan Joy Hallman

Karin Voisin

Sue Hallman

Tori Fitton

Bruce Burgoyne

Youth Reviewers

As an organization, we value the opinions and experiences of children and youth and are working to include them in our grant review process. In 2019 we embarked on a journey to rework our existing processes for external reviewers into some that are youth-friendly. We are grateful to all of the youth who have provided their feedback not only on grant applications but on our youth engagement efforts as a whole.